We are happy to support and sponsor many local charities but none more than Rhyce Ramsden. Rhyce Ramsden plays for Everton amputees and England amputees and has just won the Nations League in June this year with England, beating the current World Champions and European Champions. The highlight for Rhyce was winning the Golden Boot as top goal scorer.
Rhyce and Everton have just won the Amputee FA Cup.
Rhyce nor his teammates get funding from the English FA, although every other country gives support. This means to attend he must fund his own way.
A little about Rhyce
Rhyce Ramsden wants to become a major star in amputee football after establishing himself in the England team at just 16 years old.
The midfielder has made a remarkable start to his career, helping his country to the final of the Amputee European Championships in 2018, just six months after getting involved in the sport.
The Wanderers fan got a taste of the big time when he played in front of 40,000 people in the final and despite suffering the heartbreak of losing to a late winning goal he looks back on the experience with pride and a determination to build on it.
I want to be the best player in amputee football,” said the Tonge Moor teenager.
“The fact I’ve made it into the senior team at 16 years of age is truly remarkable and gives me great confidence in my abilities.”
Reflecting on the European Championships where England lost 2-1 to host nation Turkey in the final, he said: “The whole atmosphere in the stadium was utterly breathtaking.
“The fact I had the chance to play in front of that many supporters is fantastic.
“The stadium held more supporters than my favourite team Bolton Wanderers, and that in itself was an accomplishment.
Ramsden was launched on his career by Owen Coyle Jnr, the son of former Bolton Wanderers player and manager Owen Coyle.
Coyle Jnr, the England Amputees manager, visited St Catherine’s and offered the teenager the opportunity to attend a scouting weekend in Crewe.
Impressed by his speed, the watching coaches offered him a place in the England Junior Amputees team.
He was then recruited by Manchester City Amputees as you need to play for a domestic team to play for the seniors, for whom he now plays with Everton’s amputee side.
Ramsden, who had never even walked with crutches before he started using them to play football, got his call-up for the England senior team’s squad for the European Championships after again impressing at a training camp for the national junior squad in Poland.
He was part of the side that stormed through the Euros to reach the final before suffering the heartbreak of losing to a Turkey goal in the dying minutes.